Kalanchoe plant named `Best Peach`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named `Best Peach`, characterized by its unique and uniform pastel apricot/peach flower color; compact plant growth habit; early flowering, short response time; full plants, freely branching habit with shoots forming at every node; uniform plant habit and inflorescence display; small dark green glossy leaves; proportional leaf size to plant size; numerous flowers per plant; medium to large flowers with wide petals; unique bell-shaped flowers; resistance to Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium; and excellent postproduction longevity.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Adans.,and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Best Peach`.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Soquel and Half Moon Bay, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program was to create new Kalanchoe cultivars having a uniformand compact plant habit; freely branching habit; attractive flower andfoliage colors; short response time; resistance to diseases and insects;and good postproduction longevity.

The new cultivar originated from a self-pollination made by the inventorof a proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Adans. selection code number813-001. The cultivar `Best Peach` was discovered and selected by theinventor in July, 1993, as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated selfing in a controlled environment in Soquel, Calif. Compared tothe parent selection, plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact,flower earlier and have a different flower color.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal and node cuttingstaken at Soquel and Half Moon Bay, Calif., has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

The cultivar `Best Peach` has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Best Peach`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Best Peach` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Unique and uniform pastel apricot/peach flower color.

2. Compact plant growth habit.

3. Early flowering, short response time.

4. Full plants, freely branching habit with shoots forming at everynode. Plants do not require pinching.

5. Uniform plant habit and inflorescence display.

6. Small dark green glossy leaves.

7. Proportional leaf size to plant size.

8. Numerous flowers per plant.

9. Medium to large flowers with wide petals.

10. Unique bell-shaped flowers.

11. Resistant to Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium.

12. Not attractive to aphids.

13. Excellent postproduction longevity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a top perspective view of a typical potted plant of `BestPeach` taken in Soquel, Calif. Flower color in the photograph may appeardifferent from the actual color due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurements and numericalvalues represent typical plants in 10.5-cm containers that were grownduring the spring in Northern California. Plants were grown undercultural and environmental conditions that approximated commercialpractice in a plastic-covered greenhouse with day temperatures rangingfrom 16° to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 4.5° to 13° C.Plants were exposed to five weeks of long day/short nights followed bysix weeks of short day/long night photoperiodic treatments.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Adans. cultivar `BestPeach`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selectioncode number 813-001.

Female or seed parent.--Proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selectioncode number 813-001.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--10 to 12 days at 21° C. soil temperature.

Time to develop roots.--About 20 days at 18° C. soil temperature.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Form.--Compact and uniform. Plant shape is an inverted triangle with arounded apex.

Branching habit.--Freely branching, generally shoots formed at everynode. Plants do not require pinching.

Plant height at flowering.--About 17.5 cm from soil level to top ofplant, about 17.5 cm in diameter, appropriate for 10.5-cm and smallercontainers.

Vigor.--Moderately vigorous and moderate growth rate.

Production time.--Three to 6 weeks of long day/short night conditionsfollowed by about 6 weeks of short day/long night conditions arerequired to initiate and develop flowers. Plants are in flower 2 to 3weeks later. Depending on environmental conditions, a total of 11 to 15weeks is required.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, opposite, generally symmetrical.Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 4.75 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse toacute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Crenate. Texture: Leathery, glabrous,glossy, coriaceous and succulent. Petiole length: About 5 mm. Color:Young foliage upper surface: 147A. Young foliage lower surface: 147A.Mature foliage upper surface: 147A. Mature foliage lower surface:147A/147B. Petiole: Greener than 147B. Stem color: 147B.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Single flowers arranged in compound dichasialcymes on strong peduncles. Freely flowering and very floriferous withnew buds continuing to develop. Uniform inflorescence display. Flowersare a unique bell shape.

Natural flowering season.--Plants flower under natural daylengths duringthe autumn and winter. Flower initiation and development can be inducedunder short day/long night conditions. After induction, opening of newbuds continuous. Flowers persistent.

Inflorescences borne.--Above foliage, arising from leaf axils.Inflorescence of each shoot is formed by dichotomous branching.

Time to flower.--Under optimal environmental and cultural conditions,plants of the cultivar `Best Peach` will start flowering after 8 or 9weeks after start of controlled photoperiods (short day/long nightconditions). First flower open is the terminal flower at the main axisand is followed by the opening of the terminal flowers of the sidebranches of the inflorescence.

Flower diameter.--About 1.5 cm.

Flower depth (height).--About 1.4 cm.

Quantity.--More than 150 flowers per plant.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Oblongbecoming tubular/ovoid with development. Rate of opening: Rapid. Color:Initially green, 144A, becoming salmon green just before opening, thensalmon orange, 41B.

Petals.--Quantity: Four. Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape:Rounded. Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous, smooth andsatiny. Aspect: Flat to slightly reflexed. Color: When opening, uppersurface: Close to 41B. When opening, lower surface: Light orange withdarker orange spots and streaks, close to 41B. Mature, upper surface:Close to 41A/41B/41C. Mature, lower surface: Light orange with darkerorange spots and streaks, close to 41B. Throat and tube: Light green,144A, with red streaks at apex, slightly translucent.

Sepals.--Quantity: Four. Length: About 5 mm. Width at base: About 2.5mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Pointed. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous.Aspect: Upright. Color: Upper side: 144A, red at apex. Under side: 144A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Strong, erect, rigid, and upright. Length: About 6mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 146A, sometimes reddish overtones.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Stamen number: Eight. Anther size: About0.5 mm. Anther shape: Flat, oblong. Pollen color: Yellow, close to12B/12C. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pistils: Pistil number: Four.Stigma shape: Flat. Stigma color: Light yellow, close to 9D. Stylelength: About 1 cm. Style color: 144A. Ovary number: Four-celled.

Disease resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been observed to beresistant to Botrytis, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium.

Insect resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe are not attractive toaphids.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named`Best Peach`, as illustrated and described.